Elizabeth Bennion

Chancellor’s Professor of Political Science

Research and Teaching Interests

American politics; campaigns and elections; public opinion and political participation; civic education; political behavior; experimental political science; the scholarship of teaching and learning

Biography

Dr. Elizabeth A. Bennion is Chancellor’s Professor of Political Science and Director of Community Engagement at Indiana University South Bend. As Director of Community Engagement, she supports and promotes community‑engaged teaching, research, service, and partnerships across the region.

Bennion joined the IU South Bend Department of Political Science in 1999 and has served as instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, and professor. She was awarded the rank of Chancellor’s Professor in 2021 in recognition of sustained excellence in teaching, research, and service.

Professor Bennion teaches courses in American politics, with an emphasis on political behavior, elections, and civic engagement. She is the founding director of IU South Bend’s American Democracy Project and has served in that role since 2004. She is past host of Politically Speaking, WNIT’s live weekly public affairs television program, and current president of the Indiana Debate Commission, the nation’s oldest statewide debate commission.

A nationally recognized expert on civic education and political engagement, Dr. Bennion has authored or edited more than 85 publications and has delivered more than 200 invited presentations at academic conferences, colleges, universities, and community venues nationwide. She is a frequent media commentator for local, national, and international news organizations, with approximately 900 media appearances.

Her books include Teaching Civic Engagement: From Student to Active Citizen (2013), Teaching Civic Engagement Across the Disciplines (2017), Teaching Civic Engagement Globally (2021), and Teaching Experimental Political Science (2024). For over two decades, she has encouraged high impact teaching as author of The Teacher‑Scholar, a reoccurring column in The Political Science Educator, a national newsletter for political science educators.

Current research projects include grant‑funded research on reflective patriotism, a national study on student voter mobilization, and two edited volumes under contract, Understanding Experimental Political Science and Teaching Civic Engagement Online.

National & State Awards

• Walter Beach Pi Sigma Alpha Award — Given by the National Capital Area Political Science Association to honor scholarship bridging into public service. (2020)
• Barbara Burch Award for Faculty Leadership in Civic Engagement — Awarded by AASCU's American Democracy Project for exemplary leadership in advancing undergraduate civic learning and engagement. (2016, 2019)
• Brian Douglas Hiltunen Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Scholarship of Engagement — Indiana Campus Compact award for excellence in engaged scholarship and research. (2016)

Regional & Community Awards

• Making Democracy Work Award — League of Women Voters award for civic education and voter engagement. (2025)
• Roland Kelly Award — MLK Jr. Foundation recognition for sustained service and civic ideals. (2025)
• Maud Wood Park Award — League of Women Voters honor recognizing significant internal contributions to the growth, strength, and mission of the local League. (2015)
• City of South Bend Common Council Citation (Resolution No. 4347‑14) — Formal council resolution recognizing exemplary leadership in promoting civic engagement and lifelong learning among community members. (2014)
• Michiana Forty Under 40 Award — Given by the South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce for career success and community impact. (2012)

University-Wide Awards

• Faculty Colloquium for Excellence in Teaching (FACET)  — Peer‑reviewed honor recognizing sustained leadership and excellence in instruction. Admitted 2004.
• W. George Pinnell Award for Outstanding Service  — Award recognizing exceptional service to the university, profession, and community. (2009)

Campus Awards

• Top 25 Titans Award  — Chancellor's award for exceptional innovation, leadership, and student success impact. (2025)
• Chancellor’s Professor  — Permanent rank of distinction for meritorious teaching, research, and service. (2021)
• Legacy Award — Alumni Association honor for lasting positive impact on students and campus. (2015)
• Trustees’ Teaching Award — Highly competitive, dossier-reviewed honor capped at ≤ 6% of faculty; nine-time recipient.

Grants

Research Grants

• More than $307,000 in combined grant funding supporting research on civic engagement, political participation, voting behavior, experimental political science, democratic education, and the scholarship of teaching and learning.
• Political Engagement Grants
  More than $80,000 in grant funding supporting nonpartisan voter education, voter registration and mobilization, candidate forums and debates, civic leadership programming, and community‑engaged public education initiatives.

A complete list of funded projects is available in the unabridged CV.